PAWS 2016

A big 'Thank You'!!!!

Many thanks to all participants and attendees on the day, who all contributed to making it a sucess - despite the awful weather, especially through the middle of the day!!!!! We would like to offer a special vote of thanks to our stall holders and to our catering outlets, not to mention our judge Linda, our compère Michelle, and Chris, our 'sound system' manager. The committee would also like to thank all our other volunteers who helped with setting out and clearing away, and with kitchen duties, the tombola, car-parking, the plants stall, and the small matter of the Registration Desk. Without the support of our assistants it wouldn't have been possible to run this event. It was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears just to see all the smiling faces and exuberant dogs.

The 2016 winners in pictures!!!

Apologies for the 'splodges' on some of the pictures - caused by rain drops on the camera's lens!!!!


Most Handsome Dog: 6-month old Frank, a St Bernard	Best Veteran (7 years +): 15 years old Teagan [The eldest dog in this class], shown by Debra	Prettiest Bitch: 5 years old Jessie, a greyhound / whippet cross

My Best friend (for children aged 6 to 14): 5 months old Max, an American Akita	Cutest Puppy (up to 12 months): 8 months old Lola, a Jack Russell / Chihuahua cross	Best Rescue: 5 years old Luther, a Lercher, shown by Michelle

Most appealing scruff: 5 year old Riley, a Jack Russell, shown by Amanda	Dog most like its owner: 3 year old Austin, a Plummer Terrier, shown by Cyril	Best 6 legs: 5 year old Jessie, a greyhound / whippet cross, shown by Matt and his legs....

Best in Show!!!


Congratulations to Riley, who won the Best in Show trophy, here with his handler, Amanda....		.... and here with his Trophy!!!		Judge Linda has a difficult decision to make.....

Altogether there were 117 dogs entered in the various classes.

More pictures from the show

Some of the Stalls


Some of the stalls - finishing touches to set-up.		Some of the stalls - first 'customers' arrive!		The World (??) famous Paws in the Park Plant stall, with stall organiser, Sue, and our brilliant compére, Michelle, both enjoying a coffee. Max and Trudie are on the registration Desk just past the plants. Ready for action! Those plant stocks went down very quickly!

The Doggie Games

Well, I suppose there is nothing in the rules that says that you have actually to be a dog to take the challenge!


Completed the course!		Ava steering her pet Papi through the 'Slalom' - or was it the other way round?		Three on the finishers' Podium!!!

Dogs, dogs, and, well, more dogs.....

Other attractions

In the lunchtime break, the spectators were rewarded with a stunning display by the award-winning Essex Flyball Team. So what is 'Flyball' you ask? Pairs of well-trained dogs compete against each other by 'flying' down the course over a series of hurdles to the far end, where they pick up a ball and 'fly' back, without dropping the ball or missing any hurdles. It has to be seen to be believed! Please see http://essexflyball.webs.com/ for further information about this Group, which trains its dogs at The Wick Country Park, where it can be seen practising on most Sunday mornings.

Alongside the arena attractions, there were several commercial and charity stalls, including refreshment outlets, and opportunities for the public to have a go at the 'Doggie Challenge' and also on the Flyball course. For the children, there was a quiz based on dog associations, for example, see a corgi and think of ......The Queen!